Images of Old Hawaiʻi

by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Chiefs Meeting King George IV

Liholiho (Kamehameha II) sailed from Honolulu, November 27, 1823, accompanied by his favorite wife Kamāmalu, Boki and his wife Liliha, Kekūanāo’a, Kapihe, Manuia, James Young Kanehoa, a few servants, and his interpreter John Rives. In London, Liholiho and Kamāmalu became ill. It is believed they probably contracted the measles on their visit to the Royal Military Asylum (now the Duke of York’s Royal Military School.) Kamāmalu (aged 22) died on July 8, 1824. The grief-stricken Kamehameha II (age 27) died six days later, on July 14, 1824. Prior to his death he asked to return and be buried in Hawai‘i.

By the death of the king, Boki became the leader of the party. After they had all regained their health and arrangements had been completed for their return to Hawaii, an interview was held (September 11, 1824) with King George IV who was accompanied by Secretary Canning and some other officials. “The king then asked Boki ‘What was the business on which you and your king came to this country?’ … Then Boki ‘We have come to confirm the words which Kamehameha I gave in charge to Vancouver, thus, ‘go back and tell King George to watch over me and my whole kingdom.’” “George IVth replied, you must look after the inside affairs, and I will look after the outside …”

by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Humehume’s Rebellion

Kauai’s King Kaumuali‘i died on May 26, 1824; his son was Humehume. Kaumuali‘i had previously sent Humehume to the continent for a Western education; he returned to Kauai with the Pioneer Company of missionaries in 1820. With the passing of the king, the islands of Kauai and Ni‘ihau – including all lands, ships, fortifications, munitions, and property – would be transferred to the commander-in-chief Kalanimōku for him to administer until Liholiho returned from England. Tension mounted throughout the islands following Kaumuali‘i’s death. Kalanimōku sailed to Kauai to proclaim the will of the dead chief and settle government affairs and land disputes.

A general uneasiness spread among Kauai chiefs who feared the loss of their lands and positions of leadership as a result of Kaumuali‘i’s death. The island’s ali‘i split into two factions: those who supported the authority of Liholiho against those who supported the interests of the Kauai chiefs. Seeking control, Humehume summoned his men to a council of war. Sometime after midnight (August 8, 1824) the Kauai men entered the fort undetected. Then … disaster. The intruders were discovered. Humehume and his surviving warriors made a hasty retreat. Humehume was eventually captured and imprisoned. The closing year and a half of Humehume’s life were spent in Honolulu under the custody of Kalanimōku. A victim of influenza, Humehume died on May 3, 1826, six years to the day of his return to Waimea, Kauai.

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Entourage

On November 27, 1823, L’Aigle, an English whaling ship, took Kamehameha II (Liholiho), Kamāmalu and their entourage to England to gain firsthand experience in European ways. The king and his chiefs agreed that Liholiho needed a competent interpreter to travel with him and Frenchman John Rives went as interpreter.

Liholiho’s chosen party were Governor Boki and his wife, Liliha, Kapihe, Chief Kekuanaoa, steward Manuia, Naukana (Noukana), Kauluhaimalama, servant Na‘aiweuweu, and James Kanehoa Young. In London, Liholiho and Kamāmalu became ill; Kamāmalu (aged 22) died on July 8, 1824, Kamehameha II (age 27) died six days later, on July 14, 1824. The British Government dispatched HMS Blonde to return them back to Honolulu; they arrived on May 6, 1825.

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Liholiho and the Missionaries

The Pioneer Company of missionaries arrived “On the morning of the 4th of April, 163-day from Boston, we came to anchor, abreast of the village of Kailua … a great number of the natives-men, women and children, from the highest to the lowest rank, including the king and his mother, were amusing themselves in the water.” “(The Missionaries sought) permission to take such situations for a year, a very short probation for such an experiment. This the king granted, not only permitting us to reside and labor at different islands, but offering us such a shelter as the grassy huts of the country afforded”.

While the initial approval of allowing the missionaries to stay in the Islands was an extensive process, on March 18, 1823, Liholiho wrote to the American Mission stating, in part, “The ministers sailed here to do good things for us, we were overjoyed. And later on we may well be fully virtuous. We observe the sacred day of Almighty God in heaven, savior of us all.” “Greatly beloved are all of you for thinking of us, for sending them here. Thankfully you sent teachers or our lands would be completely ignorant. But no, you showed us compassion. Our lands have become enlightened.”

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Poisoned

It seems, in January 1808, Kamehameha made arrangements with Captain Caleb Brintnall, Master of the Triumph out of New Haven, to take his 12-year old son and heir apparent, Liholiho, to New England for his education. However, Kaʻahumanu saw Kamehameha’s plan for the boy as a threat to her influence and political hold. So she sent an outrigger canoe with a mullet dinner out to Brintnall’s ship in Honolulu Harbor – a gift for the Captain and his officers.

In the Hawaiian tradition of ‘apu koheoheo (the poison cup) the fish had been basted with the deadly toxins of the keke (puffer fish.) However, Brintnall and most of his officers were on shore at Honolulu. Mix was the only officer on board who had dinner and then died from the poisoning. This may have changed the course of history in the Islands. Following this, Brintnall sailed on to Kealakekua and met ʻŌpūkahaʻia. He boarded Brintnall’s ‘Triumph’ in Kealakekua Bay and set sail for New York. ʻŌpūkahaʻia later inspired American Protestant missionaries to volunteer to carry his message to Hawaiʻi.